Eurostar Ski Train - day

Introduction

photo:Daniel ElkanBoarding a Eurostar at London St Pancras

The Eurostar Ski Train daytime train to the Alps is an enjoyable, hassle-free way to reach resorts in the Tarentaise region of France, such as Les Arcs, La Rosiere, Tignes, Val D'Isere, Val Thorens, Les Menuires and Meribel.

We highly recommend the daytime service - door to door it is quicker than flying and far more enjoyable, and we've taken it a number of times. The seats are comfortable and you can stroll down to the cafe bar where you can get hot and cold drinks and food.

There's also a direct Eurostar Ski Train overnight service, which has reclining seats but not couchette compartments with flat beds. For that reason, if you want to go overnight and get extra time on the slopes, and prefer a flat bed rather than a reclining seat, take a Eurostar + Corail Lunea instead.

Seating and facilities

photo:Daniel ElkanA table seat on the Eurostar Ski Train

The seats on the Eurostar day train are comfortable in Standard Class, but book a table seat if they are available - especially if there are a group of you who want to sit together - table seats are more fun. In Standard Premier (Eurostar's equivalent of First Class) you automatically get a table seat, more room and food included..

In Standard Premier (Eurostar’s equivalent of First Class), every seat is a table seat - and you get a meal served too. But you pay more for the priviledge, naturally.

There are power sockets (UK and Continental) in all Standard Premier carriages, and in coaches 5 and 14 of the Standard Class carriages. The Eurostar Ski Train doesn't have wifi or internet on board yet. You can click here to view the seating plan. There's no wifi on Eurostar yet.

There is space to store skis and luggage in the overhead rack and space for larger cases at the ends of carriages, as well as a special compartment for skis too.

Luggage and skis

There are generous luggage allowances on the Eurostar Ski Train.

Each traveller can take two cases (with no weight limit) plus a pair of skis or a snowboard, plus hand luggage. Nice.

There are special compartments for storing skis and snowboards, but like on ordinary Eurostar trains, you can also store them on the overhead racks.

Cafe bar

The Eurostar Direct Ski train has a cafe bar serving hot and cold drinks and snacks.It's decently priced but you can also bring your own food and drink on board too - and there's a great atmosphere - everyone on board is excited to be on their way to the slopes, and pleased not to be flying or driving.

At St Pancras International station there are numerous shops and cafes, including a Marks & Spencer - so give yourself time to stock up on goodies for the journey.